Super Short Summary

The Bird Artist by Howard Norman is both a mystery novel and a work of historical fiction set in 1911 in Witless Bay, Newfoundland, featuring narrator Fabian Vas, an artist who paints birds in his remote coastal village. At the beginning of the novel, Fabian confesses to the murder of the local lighthouse keeper, a man named Botho August. The novel continues to tell the story of Fabian and Botho, and the sordid tale that led Fabian to commit the murder, alongside portraits of Fabian's childhood and strained familial relationships. The story also explores Fabian's love for Margaret Handle and the consequences of his inability to stand up to his parents' wishes. The book includes themes of infidelity and violence.